This paper discusses the environmental performance dynamics of commercial buildings and examines the efficacy of green labels like LEED to bring about reductions in energy consumption. A dataset of 26,000 buildings in the US was used for the analysis. The results indicate that the commercial real estate sector is gradually obtaining reductions in energy consumption. The types of upgrades linked to the most significant improvements in energy efficiency for commercial buildings are also  discussed.

Key words: HVAC, large building controls/automation, lighting systems/controls, energy management